Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JJ happy to be back in the red
JJ HANRAHAN is thrilled to be back playing for Munster ahead of the derby against Leinster this weekend. Munster travel to Aviva Stadium tomorrow looking to avenge a 25-14 defeat to their biggest rivals at same venue 12 months ago. Kerryman Hanrahan was beginning his second season with Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership at that stage but he arrived back in Limerick this summer.
The 25-year-old, who can play out-half or centre, had made 64 appearances for Munster before he left for Franklin’s Gardens in 2015.
And then he scored two tries in his first game back against Cardiff Blues. “Strangely enough it felt like home getting out on Thomond Park again and I was happy enough to be playing,” said Hanrahan. “It’s great to get back on the field and to come and play for Munster again, you can’t really put it into words how much it means to play for this jersey.
“It was tough being out injured. It has been about five and a half months since I had played. I was so eager to get back out there. “All of the credit goes to the medical team here in Munster. They have done an unbelievable job on me, Ray Mcginley particularly. “I had one or two setbacks along the way, the shoulder was very stiff but it’s there now and I am pretty happy to be back.” Munster’s only defeat of the campaign so far came away to Glasgow Warriors in round four but they bounced back with a comprehensive bonus point win over Cardiff Blues last weekend.